that supplied custom software to the military. Because he transported classified codes, he employed a private security team. A man was parked in front of their house now. “I’ll hire more people to keep an eye on us. I’ll even get someone to shadow John in Massachusetts. Your peace of mind is all that matters.”
“You’re the most wonderful man in the world. Please understand why we have to cancel the wedding.”
“You don’t need to work, Carolyn,” Marcus said, a stern look on his face. “I can’t have my wife in constant danger. There are more worthwhile things you could do with your time. You could volunteer somewhere, take up golf or tennis, spend more time with Rebecca.”
“We’ve already discussed this dozens of times.” This was the only conflict they had in their relationship. “There’s no way I can quit now. The police asked me to go through all of Veronica’s cases. Then I’ll have to find out who’s still in prison and who’s been released on parole, get their addresses, try to find them. Criminals move every week.”
“I thought this Bramson guy was the killer.”
“We don’t know that for certain,” Carolyn told him. “The clerk said the man who rented the room was black. Bramson is white. It could be anyone.”
Marcus shrugged and headed off toward the kitchen. Even the way he walked intrigued her. His long legs and torso moved purposely forward, while his head seemed to remain motionless. It was a trick of the eye, created by his graceful but deceptively fast pace.
In many ways, they made the perfect couple. They talked fast, moved fast, and made instant decisions. They worked with efficiency and determination, and they both possessed extraordinary memories. The only time Carolyn forgot anything was when she was emotionally distraught as she was now.
She rushed to the closet to find something to wear. She stopped when saw Veronica’s maid of honor dress. Removing the plastic, she fingered the pale lavender silk. She’d give the dress to Drew to bury her in. It had come from the dressmaker’s a month ago. Veronica had never got around to picking it up.
Pausing in the doorway of the bathroom, she stared out over the cavernous bedroom. Veronica and Drew’s entire house was only a few feet larger. Marcus’s sprawling home seemed like a disgusting display of wealth. The people who actually needed this kind of space were seldom able to afford it.
As she was brushing her teeth, the three-carat diamond ring on her finger was reflected in the mirror. When she went to work, she turned it around backward. Would she ever get used to her new lifestyle? It was distancing her from her friends and coworkers. Even Brad Preston treated her differently, and they’d once been lovers.
She jumped in the shower, relishing the feel of the hot water against her skin. After she shampooed her hair and got out, she dried it with a towel. What people failed to understand was it was Marcus’s money, not hers. She hadn’t reached the point where she felt comfortable having him support her. Except for the few years when her ex-husband, Frank, had taught school, she’d been the primary breadwinner. Paying her own bills allowed her to maintain a sense of independence. She hadn’t fallen in love with Marcus because he was successful. She loved him because he was a great man.
Carolyn ran a comb through her hair, put on her makeup, dressed, and grabbed her briefcase and purse. She thought of herself as a wash-and-wear girl. Her naturally curly hair made it easy to care for. All she had to do was wash it. The only thing she went to the beauty salon for was haircuts. She filed her own nails, had never had a facial, and could be ready to go just about anywhere in less than thirty minutes. The first time she and Marcus had gone on a trip together, he’d nagged her to pack three days before they were scheduled to leave. While Marcus cooled his heels, certain they were going to miss their flight,
“You’re the most wonderful man in the world. Please understand why we have to cancel the wedding.”
“You don’t need to work, Carolyn,” Marcus said, a stern look on his face. “I can’t have my wife in constant danger. There are more worthwhile things you could do with your time. You could volunteer somewhere, take up golf or tennis, spend more time with Rebecca.”
“We’ve already discussed this dozens of times.” This was the only conflict they had in their relationship. “There’s no way I can quit now. The police asked me to go through all of Veronica’s cases. Then I’ll have to find out who’s still in prison and who’s been released on parole, get their addresses, try to find them. Criminals move every week.”
“I thought this Bramson guy was the killer.”
“We don’t know that for certain,” Carolyn told him. “The clerk said the man who rented the room was black. Bramson is white. It could be anyone.”
Marcus shrugged and headed off toward the kitchen. Even the way he walked intrigued her. His long legs and torso moved purposely forward, while his head seemed to remain motionless. It was a trick of the eye, created by his graceful but deceptively fast pace.
In many ways, they made the perfect couple. They talked fast, moved fast, and made instant decisions. They worked with efficiency and determination, and they both possessed extraordinary memories. The only time Carolyn forgot anything was when she was emotionally distraught as she was now.
She rushed to the closet to find something to wear. She stopped when saw Veronica’s maid of honor dress. Removing the plastic, she fingered the pale lavender silk. She’d give the dress to Drew to bury her in. It had come from the dressmaker’s a month ago. Veronica had never got around to picking it up.
Pausing in the doorway of the bathroom, she stared out over the cavernous bedroom. Veronica and Drew’s entire house was only a few feet larger. Marcus’s sprawling home seemed like a disgusting display of wealth. The people who actually needed this kind of space were seldom able to afford it.
As she was brushing her teeth, the three-carat diamond ring on her finger was reflected in the mirror. When she went to work, she turned it around backward. Would she ever get used to her new lifestyle? It was distancing her from her friends and coworkers. Even Brad Preston treated her differently, and they’d once been lovers.
She jumped in the shower, relishing the feel of the hot water against her skin. After she shampooed her hair and got out, she dried it with a towel. What people failed to understand was it was Marcus’s money, not hers. She hadn’t reached the point where she felt comfortable having him support her. Except for the few years when her ex-husband, Frank, had taught school, she’d been the primary breadwinner. Paying her own bills allowed her to maintain a sense of independence. She hadn’t fallen in love with Marcus because he was successful. She loved him because he was a great man.
Carolyn ran a comb through her hair, put on her makeup, dressed, and grabbed her briefcase and purse. She thought of herself as a wash-and-wear girl. Her naturally curly hair made it easy to care for. All she had to do was wash it. The only thing she went to the beauty salon for was haircuts. She filed her own nails, had never had a facial, and could be ready to go just about anywhere in less than thirty minutes. The first time she and Marcus had gone on a trip together, he’d nagged her to pack three days before they were scheduled to leave. While Marcus cooled his heels, certain they were going to miss their flight,
Similar Books
